What Spartek does

Spartek, Inc. is a US-based industrial engineering and contract-manufacturing company specializing in inline vacuum metallizing, traditional vacuum plating/metallizing, and injection molding. Originally founded in 1953 as Carlson Industries in Minneapolis and rebranded as Spartek upon relocating to Sparta, Wisconsin in 1960, the company operates a 150,000-square-foot flagship manufacturing facility in Sparta and a 23,000-square-foot equipment subsidiary, Marca Technologies (acquired February 2023), in Gorham, Maine. Its technology stack centers on Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) sputtering — executed through inline robotic metallizing lines, six vacuum chambers, five hand-spray booths, and proprietary systems including the Revolution 3D Vacuum Metallizer (R3D) — supplemented by eleven injection molding presses ranging from 28 to 1,500 tons and a Class 1000 clean room for hard-coat and anti-fog coatings.

The company generates revenue through three streams: custom project-based manufacturing services (metallizing, injection molding, assembly) for enterprise customers; mass-production metallizing services with capacity up to 25 million units; and equipment sales via Marca Technologies, which designs and builds its own PVD sputtering systems. Its go-to-market is consultative enterprise field sales driven primarily through a website Request Quote funnel, complemented by content marketing via its blog, social channels, and Society of Vacuum Coaters (SVC) industry participation.

Spartek's largest disclosed accounts include Tito's Handmade Vodka (copper caps), Crown Royal via Amcor (70M+ premium closures annually), ABL-Vignal (automotive lighting reflectors), Whirlpool (precision appliance components), and Ladtech (infrastructure manhole rings). Industries served include spirits and beverage packaging (primary), automotive, construction/infrastructure, appliances and consumer products, cosmetics, and general manufacturing. Leadership is led by CEO George Parke, IV, with operational expansion evidenced by active hiring, capacity additions, ERP centralization, and a 2024 sustainability initiative covering 78% of resins processed with 100% recycled content.

Name

Spartek

Legal name

Spartek, Inc.

Website

https://spartekinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Spartek, Inc. is a Wisconsin-based industrial contract manufacturer specializing in inline vacuum metallizing (PVD sputtering), traditional vacuum plating, and injection molding for enterprise customers in spirits packaging, automotive, construction, appliances, and cosmetics, supplemented by proprietary equipment manufacturing via its Marca Technologies subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Contract Manufacturing (Vacuum Metallizing & Injection Molding)

SIC

Plastics Products, Nec (3089)

akta.pro primary industry

Custom Injection Molding & Contract Manufacturing (Job Shops/CMs) (IMANAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Precision & Micro Injection Molding (IMANAFAH)

Keywords

• Vacuum metallizing services
• Injection molding services
• PVD sputtering equipment
• Inline metallizing systems
• Custom plastic manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Sparta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Manufacturing Services: Spartek generates revenue through custom manufacturing services including vacuum metallizing, injection molding, and related finishing services. Revenue comes from project-based work with enterprise customers requiring specialized manufacturing capabilities.
2. Vacuum Metallizing Services: Vacuum plating and metallizing services with capacity to handle mass processing of up to 25 million units, as well as small specialty orders.
3. Equipment Manufacturing (via Marca Technologies): Design and manufacture of custom equipment including inline metallizers, tooling, and automated systems sold to customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Spartek provides custom contract manufacturing services in inline vacuum metallizing (PVD sputtering), traditional vacuum plating and metallizing, and injection molding of precision plastic components. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary Marca Technologies, Spartek also designs and manufactures proprietary inline PVD sputtering equipment for metallizing plastics and glass. Production is concentrated in a 150,000-square-foot facility in Sparta, WI with a secondary 23,000-square-foot facility in Gorham, ME.

Product overview

Spartek offers a portfolio of three core manufacturing services: Inline Vacuum Metallizing (using PVD sputtering technology for high-volume production with robotic automation), Vacuum Plating & Metallizing (traditional batch processing with six chambers handling small to large orders up to 25 million units), and Injection Molding (11 presses from 28-ton to 1,500-ton). Through its subsidiary Marca Technologies, Spartek also designs and manufactures proprietary metallizing equipment including the Revolution 3D Vacuum Metallizer and CM40 Cutlery Metallizing System. Additional capabilities include hard-coat and anti-fog coatings applied in a Class 1000 clean room. The company serves diverse industries including spirits closures, cosmetics, automotive, construction, and consumer products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Marca Technologies, LLC: A subsidiary operating under Spartek, acquired in February 2023.

Products and services

• Inline Vacuum Metallizing and Coating Lines Contract manufacturing service using PVD sputtering-based inline vacuum metallizers and coating lines, fully integrated with FANUC robotic automation, producing millions of metallized parts per year with no manual handling for enterprise customers in spirits, automotive, cosmetics, and consumer products.
• Vacuum Plating & Metallizing Traditional batch vacuum plating and metallizing service using six vacuum chambers and five hand spray booths, applying aluminum, nickel, stainless steel, and brass coatings onto ABS, PET, HDPE, and PP substrates, for both small specialty runs and mass processing up to 25 million units.
• Injection Molding Precision injection molding service operating eleven presses from 28-ton to 1,500-ton capacity, producing components weighing from a few ounces up to 15 lbs for construction, POP displays, LED lighting, agricultural, consumer products, and other industrial OEMs.
• Revolution 3D Vacuum Metallizer (R3D) Proprietary inline PVD metallizing equipment manufactured by Spartek's Marca Technologies subsidiary for processing three-dimensional plastic and glass parts, with seven-second cycle times and variable speed part rotation, sold to manufacturers seeking high-throughput automated metallizing capability.
• CM40 Cutlery Metallizing System High-throughput PVD metallizing system designed and manufactured by Marca Technologies to apply durable, metal-like coatings on plastic cutlery, with annual output potential exceeding 92 million units.
• Hard-Coat and Anti-Fog Coating Service Specialty coating service applied in a Class 1000 clean room, providing silicon-based hard-coat (scratch, UV, and chemical resistance) and hydrophilic anti-fog coatings for polycarbonate lenses and similar optical components.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced workforce requirements while doubling production capacity with second inline metallization machine
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Marca Technologies (Knowlton Machine)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 February 2023Acquired in February 2023, Marca Technologies is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Spartek. With a 151-year history in manufacturing and machining, Marca specializes in developing advanced inline PVD sputtering equipment and coating processes. The company designs and manufactures all its own tooling, enabling vertical integration of equipment manufacturing.
• Stellar Mold & ToolminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership during COVID-19 pandemic to rapidly produce face shields. Stellar Mold provided engineering, design, and injection mold for Quick Response Shield within two weeks. Demonstrated Spartek's ability to pivot and collaborate during crisis.
• RBI MachiningminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Collaborated with RBI Machining in Sparta, WI during pandemic to develop and deliver tooling for elastic straps for face shield production within one week.
• Tel-Mar Steel Rule and DieminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020Provided consistent, on-time deliveries of die-cut face shields during pandemic, supporting Spartek's face shield production lines.
• Amcor (formerly Berry Global)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver 70+ million premium Crown Royal closures annually. Spartek provides vacuum metallizing services while Amcor handles packaging manufacturing. Project involved seven years of collaborative development. Diageo (Crown Royal's parent) was the end customer driving the redesign.
• TricorBrauncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with TricorBraun (packaging solutions provider) for Tito's Vodka closure projects. TricorBraun coordinates packaging solutions while Spartek provides metallizing and manufacturing expertise.
• WhirlpoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelped Whirlpool launch a new product line by overcoming complex and precise measurement requirements using Keyence IMM inspection machine.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Illinois Tool Works (ITW): Large diversified industrial manufacturer with multiple plastics, coatings, and finishing businesses that touch injection molding and surface treatments, making ITW a broad incumbent peer for Spartek's integrated molding-and-metallizing model.
• Veeco Instruments: Public equipment manufacturer of PVD and thin-film deposition systems used in semiconductor, photonics, and industrial coatings; broader incumbent comparable to Marca Technologies' PVD sputtering equipment business rather than Spartek's service business.

Direct peers

• Applied Plastics: US custom injection molder specializing in precision components and assemblies for industrial and consumer applications, comparable to Spartek's precision molding capabilities across its press tonnage range.
• Tessy Plastics: US-based custom injection molder offering design, tooling, molding, and assembly services for medical, consumer, and industrial customers, directly comparable to Spartek's contract injection molding and assembly offering.
• Vapor Technologies: Provider of PVD coating services and equipment for decorative and functional finishes on plastics, comparable to Spartek's combination of metallizing services plus Marca Technologies' PVD equipment business.
• EVCO Plastics: Large US custom injection molder serving diverse industrial and consumer markets with multi-press capacity comparable to Spartek's 11-press injection molding operation, often combining molding with downstream finishing services.
• Vergason Technology: US vacuum metallizing and PVD coating specialist offering inline sputtering and batch metallizing on plastic substrates, directly overlapping with Spartek's core metallizing capabilities across automotive, cosmetics, and consumer end-uses.
• Plastic Molded Concepts: US custom injection molder providing molding, value-added assembly, and finishing for industrial customers, comparable in scale and service mix to Spartek's injection molding business serving construction, appliance, and consumer segments.
• Empire Coating Services: US-based provider of vacuum metallizing and PVD coating services on plastics, directly comparable to Spartek's vacuum plating and inline metallizing services for similar end-markets including packaging and consumer goods.
• UPT (Ultra Pure Technology): Provider of PVD coating services and surface treatments on plastic and metal substrates, directly comparable to Spartek's vacuum metallizing offering for functional and decorative applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SpartekInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spartekinc
• Instagraminstagram.com/spartekinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Spartek